Joseph Hall Bishop of Norwich

Works: https://www.monergism.com/topics/puritans/joseph-hall-1574-1656 Rt. Rev. Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich Birthdate: July 01, 1574 (82) Birthplace: Bristow Park, Lancashire, England Death: September 08, 1656 (82) Higham, Norfolk, England Immediate Family: Son of John Hall and Winefred Hall Husband of Elizabeth Hall Father of Ven. Robert Hall; Joseph Hall; Rt Rev George Hall, Bishop of Chester and Rev Samuel Hall Wife: Elizabeth Hall, Son: Ven. Robert Hall Son: Joseph Hall Son: Rt Rev George Hall, Bishop of Ch... Son: Rev Samuel Hall Mother: Winefred Hall Father: John Hall About Rt. Rev. Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich Joseph Hall was born at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, son of John Hall and Winifred Bainbridge. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was part of the University Wits. He published his Virgidemiarum, six books of "toothless satires", in 1597 and 1598. These verse satires were, along with those of his friend John Donne, the first English satires that followed classical models. Hall self-proclaimed himself to be the first English satirist, thus offending John Marston, who duly attacked Hall in his own satires of 1598. Hall's satires were decidedly juvenile and their fallacies were later expounded upon by Milton. In 1599, the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered Hall's satires to be burnt alongside those of Marston, Marlowe and Sir John Davies, but the order was not carried out. Hall had taken holy orders, and in 1601, he took residence in Halsted, Essex. Hall married in 1603, after which he travelled extensively in the Netherlands and the continent. He published a prose satire, Mundus alter et idem, in 1605; it was translated into English by J. Healey in 1609. Hall also published religious writings, notably Meditations and Vows (1605) and Characters of Virtues and Vices (1608). Hall was appointed chaplain to Prince Henry in 1608, and was made Dean of Worcester by James I, representing the King at the Synod of Dort. Next, Hall was made Bishop of Exeter in 1627, and of Norwich (1641). In 1641, Hall published Episcopacy by Divine Right, Asserted by J. H., an attack against Smectymnuus (1641), a pamphlet against episcopacy. This brought him into conflict with Milton, who defended the same. In 1642, Hall was among 13 bishops imprisoned by Parliament, his cathedral was desecrated in the Civil War, and Hall himself was evicted from his palace in 1647. He retired to the village of Higham and continued writing until his death. Reduced to beggary, Hall nonetheless survived until 1656. His last works were Observations on some Specialities of Divine Providence and Hard Measure (pub. 1674). He was attended in his final days by his good friend Sir Thomas Browne, who venerated him. After long infirmity, Hall died on 8 September 1656. The following: Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition/Wikipedia http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/hall/hall.gif Joseph Hall received his early education at the local Ashby Grammar School, founded by his father's patron the Earl, and was later sent (1589) to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The college was Puritan in tone, and Hall was undoubtedly under Calvinist influence in his youth. After some early setbacks (his father found it difficult to pay for a university education and nearly recalled him after the first two years) Hall's academic career was a great success. He was chosen for two years in succession to read the public lecture on rhetoric in the schools, and in 1595 became fellow of his college. During his residence at Cambridge he wrote his Virgidemiarum (1597), satires in English written after Latin models. The claim he put forward in the prologue to be the earliest English satirist: "I first adventure, follow me who list And be the second English satirist" gave bitter offence to John Marston, who attacks him in the satires published in 1598. Thomas Fuller says: "He was commonly called our English Seneca, for the purenesse, plainnesse, and fulnesse of his style. Not unhappy at Controversies, more happy at Comments, very good in his Characters, better in his Sermons, best of all in his Meditations." Bishop Hall's polemical writings, although vigorous and effective, were chiefly of ephemeral interest, but many of his devotional writings have been often reprinted. It is by his early work as the censor of morals and the unsparing critic of contemporary literary extravagance and affectations that he is best known. Virgidemiarum. Sixe Bookes. First three Bookes. Of Toothlesse Satyrs. (1) Poeticall, (2) Academicall, (3) Morall (1597) was followed by an amended edition in 1598, and in the same year by Virgidemiarum. The three last bookes. Of byting Satyres (reprinted 1599).